Why I run on the stupid treadmill so much

You already know I am a little off my rocker so this really shouldn’t suprise you that I can go 3 hours on a treadmill.

Believe me, I would much rather run outside but there are a few months throughout the year that I just don’t.

For my first marathon I did 100% of my training on the treadmill.

That would include 1 22-miler and 2 20-milers.

I always put it on at least a 1% incline.

I know people always say the treadmill is so much easier than outside running but I don’t think it is as long as you put it on an incline (remember this is just my opinion:) and I also think that it is a good idea to eat reeces pb cups for breakfast so maybe don’t follow all of my advice)

If anything, one huge benefit of treadmill running is it makes you mentally tough. I whipped out a 3:20 for my first marathon, 5th woman overall and 1st in my age group in the Salt Lake City Marathon.

I thought I would explain to you the reasoning behind my madness of why I kind of really like the treadmill.

1-I am the biggest wuss in the world. The only time I have to work-out is the early a.m. I work until 4:30 every day and my husband is really hot and I want to spend all night with him.

****Because I work-out so early (5 a.m.) there is no way I am going to prance around Provo by myself in the dark waiting for a murderer to snag me. I watch way too many Criminal Mind episodes.

2-I get to watch tv. We don’t have cable or even the basic tv channels at our house so it is an opportunity for me to catch up on Saved by the Bell, 16 and Pregnant, The Kardashians….you know the really classy TV shows.

3-I can control my speed. I am all about numbers and the treadmill gives me numbers non-stop. Great for tempo and speed workouts.

4-It is ridiculously cold in Utah in the winter and once again I am a wuss. Plus, I fall on the ice a lot and I don’t want to risk injury because I have yet learned how to walk properly.

5-There is no time limit on the treadmills at my gym so you can go for as long as you want.

6-I can store water, fuel and gum on the treadmill and enjoy breakfast as I run. Heaven forbid, I go 45 minutes without food.

7-After all of the training on the treadmill by the time the race comes I am ridiculously happy to be running outside….it seems easy after running a 22 miler on a treadmill.

8-I am a crazy soul but you knew that.

Tuesday Workout:

-54 minutes elliptical

-36 minutes stair climber

-10 minutes weights….oops

——————————————————————————————

How do you feel about the treadmill?

How often do you use the treadmill?

Did you eat chocolate today?

-Yes….pb cups galore. If you haven’t yet, I am assigning you to right now (unless you are allergic, I could get sued).

Katy

I have a love/hate relationship with the TM. I love it because of all the shiny numbers…. and hate it for the same reason. I become OBSESSED with all the shiny numbers. I think I'm like a barracuda. Shiny things attract me. Shane can tell you all about it.

I will not be moving to Utah, though if I were, you would be the first person I'd seek out. :) I would say we could work out together, but then I remember who I'm talking to. So I'd keep up with you for like 20 steps, and then you'd leave my snail-butt in the dust. :)

Laura

I totally share your love for the treadmill… when we lived in downtown Vancouver I went over a year of running 5+ days a week without doing a single run outside! Which is kind of stupid in a beautiful city like Vancouver with ocean everywhere you look, but hey, I watch Criminal Minds too and Vancouver is a BIG city. No chocolate yet, but it's not far off!

ShortSkirts

The treadmill makes me want to cry, but maybe I'll get over that one day. I think for speed workouts it'd be great to control my speed and really push myself.

Luckily enough Seattle has pretty mild winters, and after 2.5 years I don't really care about rain much, so I run outside exclusively so far.

I do like the elliptical a lot though I dont know why. I think its because I can dance on the elliptical. yea i'm that crazy chick who lip syncs and dances hard core, that's why I go in the cardio theater room so my insanity is only visible to like the 3 people next to me.

I have not eaten chocolate yet today, but there are some dark chocolate walnuts at home with my name on it.

the dawn

i think that the treadmill is a super important tool. i actually use it a lot more over the summer than i have during the winter. i canNOT handle the heat and humidity. and with the 'mill i'm able to keep my pace up when the weather would otherwise slow me down. i like to mix up the indoor/outdoor workouts.

i can't imagine a 20+ miler on the mill. wow. i'm in awe.

Shannon

I got back into running on the treadmill. I did up to 10 miles on it. It was nice being able to go down in the basement, turn on the TV, catch up on Dancing with the Stars, Boy Meets World, Man vs. Food, etc. etc. while I ran. However, I kind of "outran" my treadmill, so I no longer have one (my sister actually won it on Ellen DeGeneres' 12 Days of Christmas, so I think she needs to win me another one). In part, I am very thankful it broke because it got me outside. I would love to still have access to one so I could do some speed work, and for wonderful days when it's way too cold, snowy, icy, rainy, hot, whathaveyou to run outside.

I haven't used a treadmill in several months.

And I have not had any chocolate today. Actually, the only chocolate I have in the house right now is Kroger brand Nutella, cocoa powder, and hot chocolate… unless you count white chocolate chips, then I do have chocolate, but I fully intend to make cookies with those chips… I just need to go over to my mom's and get some butter and eggs… and peanut butter because I'm not using all my Jif on some cookies.

Aron

you are definitely a crazy girl :) I only run on the treadmill once a year and its usually when its 110+ degrees outside and I have intervals or something stupid to do that I refuse to do in the dreaded heat. Why do I have a TM in my house then? That's a good question!

Stephanie

I call it the deadmill. Only because running for me isn't about speed (note…I am a turtle) but more about the experiences. I get the most pleasure out of exploring trails and seeing where the roads take me. The tvs @ my gym don't have earphones and it takes too much concentration to read closed captioning. Plus somedays the tv I want to watch is too far to the right or left and I don't have very great peripheral vision. But I run on it pretty much all winter because I too…am a wimp. And clumsy. :)

dorrybird

I just love you. That last picture of you running made my day. You are my fitness guru. I channel you when I'm on the treadmill. :) Only thing that annoys me is when someone is there before me watching a stupid TV show when all I want to watch is E! I run with 1% incline, too. I almost find it easier than no incline. I just ate a ridiculous amount of trail mix with chocolate chips in it. My favorite bites include a chocolate chip, a peanut and a craisin.

I trained for both of my marathons on the TM…at least for my week runs…never my long runs. Like the TM. Don't LOVE it but it is okay and I like it enough to do it often! :) I am going to do your tag tonight. :) And I think the world of you too my friend! :) Thank you for your sweet comments that always make me feel special.

Rachel Marie

I like the treadmill, but I am really cheap. If I can walk just outside my house in the cold, then I will save fuel by not driving across town to the gym. And actually, all I ate today was chocolate. I'm really sick and stuck on the couch and really have no appetite, but I managed to eat two, okay, it was three brownies. Comfort food!

marathonmaiden

i'm indifferent to the TM. i'll use it bu i'm not going to gravitate towards it. for boston last year i ran all my speedwork on the thing which was good for pacing. i definitely don't think that tm running is a bad thing. and i love how the number one reason is that your hubby is hot. great reason.

therunnersplate

I really despise the treadmill! I also despise cold weather, but I still go running outside in the dead of winter. Sometimes I don't know why seeing I live in Alaska and grew up in Minnesota where the temperatures often dip below zero. (And, no, I am not "used to it" nor have I developed a thick layer of blubber.) I think for me the treadmill is just too boring, and I don't get the runner's high I do from running outside.

Abby

Thanks for this post. I often feel like a big wuss because I do a lot of my winter training inside (thank goodness for treadmills and bike trainers/stationary bikes), so it's nice to have the assurances of a sub 3:20 marathoner that there's nothing wrong with this! Come spring (and occasionally now), I'll get out on the trails and work on balance and technical terrain, but for now, gymming it feels like the best way to keep up and build fitness.

Thanks for your comment today! I hadn't heard from you in a little while and wondered whether you were still reading :)

Meghan

I used to hate the idea of a treadmill, but last year I used a gym exclusively, and I learned to enjoy people watching, looking at the tv (not listening), and watching the numbers on the treadmill. And you're right – being able to watch your pace is really kinda amazing to me.

Running and living

I think it is what you are used to. For ex., I have no problem spending 3 hours on my trainer, while others die of boredom. I used to love running on the treadmill and hate running outside. Now I run only outside. I am that crazy person who runs with a headlamp at 9pm, or runs when the snow is so high that not even cars make it on the road. So, yes, the definition of crazy is in the eye of the beholder:)

chefkatelyn

I LOVE THE TREADMILL I watch obscene amounts of Jersey Shore and Ellen. I should be embarrassed but we all watch Jersey Shore in secret;)

Also I love the "shelf" my treadmill gives me, it's like a caddy for hoarders like me! Snacks, water, iPod, phone, and that book for "just in case" my iPod by the force of nature stops working…ya know, normal stuff:)

Slash I hate how bad of a rap the treadmill gets! Sure it MOVES ITSELF, but it is a killer hamstring workout if you do it right!

Double slash I would have had chocolate today but my stomach does not like me right now:(

Siobhan

I love my treadmill runs in the winter. Mainly because I am a huge wimp when it comes to the cold and running. As the cold weather starts to come in, I get very sad about leaving my outdoor summer runs. But then I build up that relationship with the T-Mill and we fall in love all over again! Magical, right?

AND PEANUT BUTTER CUPS ARE MY FAV!! After a long hard t-mill run with inclines I love to watch my classy MTV and The Bachelor (I just can't stop that addiction as hard as I try. That's a lie- I don't try to stop it. I have fully embraced it.)

Now I want to crack into my PB Cups that are stocked up in my fridge! Mmmmmm…..delicious!

desertrunnergirl

OK this post brought me out of my stalker-mode! I've been reading and enjoying your blog for a few weeks now (love your sense of humor!). I am a major treadmill lover. Like you, I do the majority of my marathon training on it, for many of the same reasons as you. I HATE when people call it the dreadmill! Hate. It takes away all the excuses for not running, and that makes it a treasure in my opinion!

Briana

I totally 'get' your treadmill-ing it in Utah during the winter because HELLO the air quality is no bueno most of the time (there was some story in the Tribune the other day about the top 5 cities in the country with the worst air quality and FOUR OF THEM WERE IN UTAH… I kid you not. And yes, I moved outta Utah 8 weeks ago but I still read the Salt Lake Tribune online. I'm a dork like that).

I admire your ability to even run 1 mile on the treadmill as I am not mentally tough enough to go the distance on that thing. I just have to grow some cahones and go outside here in Boston (it was 22 degrees today… which is balmy for the NE).

And duh. Of course I had chocolate today. 2 'peppermint in dark chocolate' squares and a triple chocolate chip cookie. Gooooood times.

Caroline

I feel ok about the treadmill…I dont have a choice I have to use it a lot because I am home alone with the kids most of the time. I have to go to the gym, what I dont like there is that they have TV but no sound! very bad!I dont think the treadmill is easier I think outside is easier, it goes by faster. I have trained for most of my 12 races only on treadmill. For the half I went more and I think it will pay off for me!

no chocolate even though it is my birthday!eat some cake for me will you?

Sara

Like you, I teach, and in the winter most times after school are dark. I anticipate the weekends when I can run outside during the day!! I like the treadmill to a point, but once I've done 3 or 4 workouts in a row… I have to get myself outside. During college, we trained outside allllll through the winter. It's so much easier to go outside when the whole team is, vs. when it's just you.

Love the blog! And I had a Dove milk chocolate right before my run today. :)

Alexis

EBURNS

I love the treadmill, I actually prefer it. It is the only thing my husband fears I might cheat on him with. The longest run I have done on the TM is double the longest run i have done outside. i am crazy too…..I identify with all your reasons for loving the TM.

I went on your lead and started mooching my students candy, so chocolate consumption today was peanut m&m's, hugs, and snickers bites. Gotta love our kids candy stashes.

Keri

Madison

I'm not a big treadmill running fan but after reading this post I may have to reconsider. You bring up some very good points. Maybe I will do my run tomorrow on the treadmill and see how it goes. I love PB cups.

XLMIC

The treadmill has its place. Utah in the winter is a good place for it! lol

I don't use a treadmill… I run laps inside my GATE at night. It's a 0.6 mile loop, but I can make figure 8's that extend it out to 0.8. I sometimes think I'd prefer a treadmill because then you know how fast and how long for sure. Out there in my laps I am fumbling for my phone to find the time and trying to figure out exactly where and how far I've gone…. sheesh… such a rigamarole!

I once trained for a 7.5 mile race exclusively on the stairmaster. Not recommended. I did fine but my legs were shot after the race.

BigHappyFamily

I love the treadmill … for two reasons … 1) I get to exercise while someone watches my kids 20 feet away from me. 2) I can chat with my friends who I couldn't run at the same pace with outside. I also love to rigidly control my pace, no shocker there. Love my treadmill … 4-5 times/wk. I visit with the outside usually once per week to remind me that the outdoors have benefits all it's own.

the hoppe pad

I actually hate the treadmill! For this reason…I find the treadmill harder than running outside. Since we are "snowed in" in Charlotte I actually used the treadmill yesterday. I did 3 miles and I felt like I wanted to stab my eye with a spoon. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

I think it is amazing that you can be on the treadmill for as long as you can. I would love to love the treadmill more as it would be more convenient…but even with watching tv…I am just bored! Hopefully this ice will melt soon so I can go back outside…I hear you on the slipping and falling…that would so happen to me!

Beth

I don't love running on the treadmill but I am glad that it's an option. I run on the mill 3 to 4 times a week during the winter. I live in Denver so I get outside if I can but I don't like to run on snow on the streets. I will run on snowy trails though, love that. I have run as far 12 miles on a treadmill and have a feeling it will be longer this winter/spring as I train for my first marathon. I do like that hydrating, fueling and using the bathroom is so much easier at the gym.

Kimberly

I admire your ability to be on the treadmill. I just can't do it. I had to use one on vacay and I only managed an hour. In everyday life, though, I don't have a choice – we have no gym membership so it's outside or nothing.

Pixie

I despise my treadmill, it sits in my spare bedroom as a constant reminder that I have no excuse for not working out. I'm thinking about naming it in an effort to rebuild our relationship, but that might just be weird.

I don't know anything about Utah other than someone told me they have a lot of lavender farms there, so in my "when I win the lottery dream" I always have us moving to Utah and buying a lavender farm. I did not realize it got cold there so I will need to rethink this plan, you know should I win the lottery.

5 Miles 2 Empty

I like the treadmill…same reasons you mentioned. But now that I've moved to NC everything has changed. I used to live 1.5 miles from the Y and could get there to the treadmill easy and quick. Now I have to drive 23 min just to get to a stupid gym. I need to purchase one for my house (to go with my new trainer!).

Chocolate today? THAT is my problem!! Excuse me while I go devour some delicious chocolate!!!! I knew I was cranky!

Lawgirl

I usually run on the treadmill because I workout at various times (usually at night), at the school gym. I'm in law school to be a prosecutor, and after working in a DA's office I'm overly paranoid about murderers out there or ppl I've helped put away for doing bad things lurking in the bushes. How they know my *exact* run route is beyond me, but hey you never know! But, that's really impressive to do 20 mi on a treadmill. The most I've ever done is 8. But then again, 8 miles is the farthest I've ever run!

A Big Little Life

Holly

I was not a fan of the treadmill until I started doing tempo and speed work. Now I appreciate the fact that it keeps me on pace and I push myself harder than I probably would out on the road. I run with it on a 1% incline also. I definitely think that it is harder to run inside than outside. I am curious to see what my times will be outside after having run inside most of the winter!

ifherewasthere.com

Running on a treadmill for me takes SO much more mental strength!! I basically spend the whole time thinking about how I want to quit instead of how far I want to go (like I do outside). I am trying to use it to help me get faster though, since it's easier for me to do speed work on a treadmill.My treadmill is currently waiting for the treadmill doctor to come though! I was furious with it yesterday and may or may not have kicked it a few times and thrown something across the room…

RunningOnCoffee

Longest I've been on the treadmill is like 7ish miles over the summer when it was 95 out so it was impossible to run outside.

Last time I used the treadmill…at the hotel while in St Martin the last week of August. That's right! All my runs for the last 4.5 months have been outside. I'll have to use it for speedwork now that I'm training for a half marathon again and there is ice on the ground, and we're getting 8" of snow tonight. I do slow runs on ice, but I know I'd fall if I tried speedwork on ice.

Only chocolate today was the m&m in my small m & m cookie I had when I got home from work today.

The McGuire's

I'm starting to love the treadmill more. When I'm traveling Thats usually the only option… Or run outside (last trip home I unknowingly ran over seven miles, by far the furthest I've ever ran!). Of course if I could always run outside I'd run a lot more!! But I live in Colorado (soon back to Kansas!) so that's not an option!

And…. Let me think…..umm nope no chocolate yet today. But I am indulging in a cocktail! (don't judge! The beginning of the year is SuPER stressful for both me and the hubster!)

sheenasheen

I haven't ran on a treadmill in years, but of course I've just been running for about 7 months. I really don't like the cold but I'm to cheap to pay for a gym membership for just 3 or 4 months. I think it would be good for me and my speed. Who knows maybe one day? I have not eaten any chocolate today but there is still time for my famous hot chocolate!!!

Jodi H

I have a love/hate relationship with my treadmill like many others. I do have a treadmill and an elliptical in my basement so I use them whenever I need to fit the workout in or the weather is unbearable.

As for chocolate, I love it!! I could go for some right now!!

wannaberunnergrl

Makes me feel a bit better knowing you trained for your first marathon on a treadmill. So many people hate them, and I don't really mind it. I am spending lots of time on the treadmill during the winter months, Maine gets chilly in January and February!

Heather

Ah, the treadmill…I love it and I hate it! I love that I know eactly how fast (or slow) I'm going, how far I've gone, I can be out of extreme weather, etc…but I am so mentally weak. I just can't take it more than 4-5 miles. So I agree w/ you so much that it has to make you mentally strong! That's so awesome that you can run that long on a treadmill. I am impressed!!

So funny – I thought we were the only people in the world w/o cable. :) We do have network, though, so we get like 4 awesome channels. Just enough for me! :)

Meg O

like most of the commenters, I have a love/hate relationship with the mill. I used to love it, now I kind of hate it (most days). I think it's excellent for speedwork though. It especially helps when you want to get a run in and a. the weather isn't cooperating, b. it's dark out because it's early morning or evening, or c. you are too lazy to get all the gear on required for a winter run! I did a treadmill run today and it felt pretty fantastic!

I did eat chocolate today. I had a peanut butter chocoloate chip cookie and it was also fantastic :)

Carrie

Despite the fact that I'm from Cold Canada, I do 95% of my running outside. There was a time when I had a gym membership (free! oh the perks of being a student) – I used to hit the treadmill every day. And I liked it! It's warm, you don't have to carry water in silly little pouches that rub you raw and your keys don't jingle. And the tv! I don't have cable either, so I watched a lot of shows (Po5 for instance) and was always very current with my news!

I'm inspired by your treadmill training. Maybe I should make a new new year's resolution to learn my own numbers from the comfort of the indoors!

thedailyoatmeal

I trained for my first half-marathon, and pretty much all my running/racing for the first three years, on a treadmill. Now, returning from injury, I run outside for almost every run, but return to the treadmill for speedwork so that I get those fancy numbers and constant feedback.

Running outside is a different animal. I agree you can make the treadmill tough and that running long on one makes you mental (hehe), but I've also developed a new layer of toughness from running outside in sub zero, 45 mph winds, and oh yeah, lovely snow and freezing ice. I love my headlamp so much for keeping all the kidnappers in the morning :) It's a good thing I don't have cable either or that would definitely be in my head!

Teri [a foodie stays fit]

When I lived in Holladay, I did all my long runs on the treadmill. It was so peaceful to be watching the Food Network (because we didn't have cable either at that time) and also watching the feet of snow pile up since the treadmills overlooked the whole valley – gorgeous. I've run 2 hours on a treadmill, but never more than that. And it is so convenient to have all the fluids and fuel on the treadmill instead of stuffed into pockets!

I run on the treadmill about 2x a week right now, but overall, I'm not running that much. Usually in the winter in 4x a week.

kmllb

LOVE THIS! I love your positive spin on treadmill work….It's so easy for me to focus on the negatives that I tend to avoid running indoors all together (I actually prefer running outside….and I live in Minneapolis!) Now I can see running on a treadmill as a challenge, almost, a way to become a stronger (mentally) athlete! I am feeling inspired now ;)

sdralphs

I loathe the treadmill. That is why my winter working out does not go well. I am not as mentally strong as you. All I can think about is the numbers and they drive me CRAZY! It's way too easy for me to just jump off. Where as when I'm outside I have to keep running or I am stuck in the middle of nowhere. Plus, I run faster outside cause I'm like you and I get scared and want to run from the freaks.

The T.V. does not help me cause I get sick watching the characters move up and down while I run. Plus, my ear phones shock me constantly. It honestly looks like I am having a seizure when they shock me and I freak out. So then I usually end up with no T.V. and no headphones. That is just plain torture.

I LOVE running outside. I just love getting out and going and forgetting about the world and enjoying the beauty of nature. It's amazing.

No chocolate yet, but best believe I will be having some real soon. Candy bar and oreos in the pantry. I love oreos!

Miranda

I haven't done much running on a treadmill, our town currently doesn't have a gym but that's about to change, and I plan on using it a lot. My brother is the one opening it, so I think I might have agreed to some sort of will work for membership type of deal :)

Elisha

That's funny because I just posted on my blog about how I normally hate the treadmill, but made peace with it yesterday since it's been so cold out. Good to know you can train on them since I had the impression that you couldn't. I normally eat chocolate every day, but am trying to cut back :((By the way, that last picture of you is hysterical. Ha ha)

lunachickruns.com

The treadmills at my gym have a 30 min time limit. A few select secret ones can be programmed for 60 mins, but either way it is super-annoying when it just jolts to a stop in the middle of my run. I love doing speedwork on the treadmill, but for long runs I will go outside in almost any weather. It has to be a full-on blizzard for me to take it inside.

I had some chocolate granola this morning, but I don't know if that counts so I'm gonna eat some of the real thing stat!

itsagoodmorning

No, I did not eat any chocolate today. And if I don't stop reading blogs talking about food for the next 10 days, I will be tempted to give up this sugar detox!

I always run on a treadmill during the winter. After living in Minnesota my entire life and enduring the brutal cold winters, I developed a cold sensitivity/allergy. All exposed skin in freezing weather develops hives and I begin wheezing. So I really have no choice but to embrace the treadmill during the winter.

You shoulc check out Hillary Biscay's blog. She is a professional triathlete who is known for her treadmill marathons!

Legs

Funny you should write this tonight! I was running on the treadmill tonight doing one of my half marathon training runs (a 3 miler, not a 22 miler!) because it started snowing hard core in DC and I was thinking, "How does Hungry Runner Girl stay on the treadmill for so long?!!" Well now I know! You're on tough cookie, my dear!

Katie

I don't in anyway go long distances on the treadmill (maybe someday?), but I do love the treadmill because I kick my own booty and it makes me feel mentally tough. I always feel like I work up a sick sweat on the tread and during the winter I can't get that kinda sweat outside.

Plus I don't have many hills around here so I can ramp the incline up to 12% and get a killer hill workout in. LOVE IT!

Nat

Yes, I do use the tready in the winter sometimes. If I have to run too early or too late, or the weather is severely bad I will run on it. I trained for a winter marathon on the treadmill one year – and it was sorta fun actually. My two running buddies and I all trained at the same time – 2 times for 3 hours and once for 3:15. We kept each other entertained and watched tv/listened to iPods.

I agree with you about speed control. I am much more attentive to my speed when on the treadmill and I like using it for intervals and tempo runs sometimes.

A fresh batch of peanut butter chip brownies just popped out of my oven, so I will enjoy those in about 20 minutes :). Don't be jealous, if you were here I'd give you some to take to the gym for your breakfast!

Happy running!

gretchencain

22 miles — that's impressive! I was whining to myself about having to do 11 on the treadmill tomorrow morning but not anymore. I'm going to think of your 22 miler when I feel stopping mid-run tomorrow!

nicolecooks

Your comment on my blog completely made my day. I'm totally down to be bestfriends if you are ;) you are too cute!

And I always run on a treadmill. I have a history of stress fractures and I think the treadmill has a little more give. Or at least that's what I tell myself. So I'm less terrified of breaking things when I run on a treadmill. And I'm so with you on the numbers thing, too…

But I don't really go for 22 miles :P

<3n

PS I actually haven't had chocolate today. I should probably remedy that.

Maria

I have not eaten chocolate yet today, but it is breakfast time here so I just had porridge.When I used to belong to a gym the treadmill (and all cardio equipment) had 15 min time limit, so it was not great for anything mich really. BUt I can see how it would be good for speed interval/ hill workouts. I find that the time drags so I suppose you are right, once you do the race it seems easy! Or more interesting and the time goes quicker.

~Jessica~

I think running so much on the treadmill makes you hardcore, not a wuss! I'm the opposite: I'll struggle on icy roads and risk life and limb before I'll get on a treadmill. I think I'm the wuss, not you! It's because I have a fear of failure in general and the treadmill plays into that ~ I have so many negative thoughts i.e 'what if I can't keep up?' 'what if I can't achieve the pace the machine sets?' and I'm also very self-conscious in the gym wondering what people think about my size/how I look. So all of that anxiety makes my chest tighten a lot of the time and I find treadmill running difficult. Plus, I can't concentrate on TV at the best of times, let alone when I'm so scared as I am in the gym.

Treadmills are great for speed work and I admire you beyond belief for running 22 miles on one. The most I've ever done is 9 and I was ready to die by the end of it! I also have a weird dead/numb leg thing on treadmills due to the lack of camber and a nerve that gets trapped in my back due to my scoliosis, so often I have to stop the treadmill and limp off before it gets so bad that I can't walk.

I have indeed had chocolate today!!! Cocoa in my breakfast oats, chocolate PB2, cocoa mint Nakd Bars, vegan hot chocolate made with rice milk and cocoa…and it's only 10am in the UK :D

xxx

flyrunner

It's encouraging to see someone as fast as you being so successful with treadmill only training. We live in IL and I run a lot on the treadmill in the winter months. I'm used to running 20 milers on it with no problem. I agree that it definitely makes you more mentally tough and makes running outside fly by in comparison. Plus we live in a very flat area and it's the easiest way that I can get hill training in.

The Pensive Turtle

Thanks for this post! Am about 13 weeks into a marathon training plan and scheduled to do my first 20-miler Saturday. I have a second 20-miler planned for two weeks later, and my husband is going away on business & wants me to come with him. I was hemming and hawing, but now I think I will go and I can do the damn run on a treadmill while he is conferencing! Glad to know it's doable and won't hurt my training. Love you!!

natalie

crewser

thanks so much for posting the treadmill info! I definitely think running on the treadmill is harder! It may seem easier for the first mile or two but for anyone that runs any significant distance on a treadmill, it takes some serious mental strength to not get bored!! I don't mind it for a short run though but since I don't belong to a gym or own a treadmill, all my runs are outside or with the jogging stroller!!

J

i enjoy running on the treadmill because you can control your pace so you make sure you run easy or fast! Its a nice change of pace plus its safe when it gets really snowy out! I have only run about 7 miles at one time on a treadmill – I love to do intervals on the treadmill. Well I just love to do intervals in general!

Colleen

Did you read my blog this week? It's all about defining wuss because I will not run outside in the winter when it's 12 degrees. Ran 10 miles on a 1/9mile track the other day because the tv's on the treadmills that were available were broken. A crime a tell ya!

d.a.r.

drkgood

I worry about my early morning runs through the neighborhood sometime, but there is security and I am a black belt in TaeKwonDo. My husband says he pities the person who ever tries to mess with me. We have the opposite weather problem really…for me the summers are way too hot to run and require more treadmill work. It didn't used to bother me as much, but I find myself a little antsy on it now. I need to learn to get more zen about it like you. Maybe the PB cups are the trick. And better tv (enjoyed running to episodes of Lipstick Jungle on the iPad the other day).

I didn't eat chocolate yet today, but I have some waiting for me.

Kim (Book Worm Runs)

Although I am not a fan of the treadmill I know it is necessary during certain times of the year (like now, when we are buried in snow). During the winter I run on it a lot but in the summer I rarely use it if it canbe helped :) And I have some chocolate every day. It keeps me sane :)

runsinthefamily

Oh, I'm so glad to hear of someone else who likes the treadmill! I hate to be outside in the cold, icy, dark too – and I just did a 16 miler on the treadmill at my parent's house this past Saturday! My daughter is the same way.

And I had a Reese's PB cup too!!! When is your birthday? Mine is on Saturday.

winstead family

i'm a LIL late on this, but i just recently broke through a treadmill block. i had only been able to go 3 on it and recently i hit 9! so, i am beginning to love it. i have set it on .5% incline, and need to set it on 1% but i'm scared i won't be able to keep my pace i've been working so hard to get to. i'll take your advice though and go on and start bumping it up to 1%….sigh! HA!

i ate a scoop of chocolate ice cream w/ almonds in it from baskin robbins yesterday. MMMM

All Things Jaime

I think I eat chocolate almost every day! I've run a couple of 15 milers on the treadmill, but never more than that! Sometimes, I do just fine of the treadmill, but othertimes I can't stay on it more than a minute! I prefer outside! :) But, I also run in the early AM like you, so if I don't have someone to meet me, I'm stuck on the treadmill.

Runners Fuel

Stephanie

I LOVE the treadmill and used it a lot when training for my first marathon- I did 2- 20 milers and a few 15-16 milers on it, the rest I managed outdoors. I am the opposite, I can only tolerate so much heat! when it would be 84* w/ 100% humidity at 4am- that is just a death wish!

I have been embracing the outdoors this winter though, and you can laugh at my Florida winters, but I almost feel suffocated going into the gym with the heat turned up so high (like 76* inside the gym) so I have been laying off of it the last few weeks.

Jen

YOU ARE AWESOME! The longest I have been on a treadmill is 12 miles. Of course I don't have a TV to keep me occupied. Now you see my love of your cycling playlists. I am constantly in need of new music. If I were in your shoes, I'd do the same thing. Provo is just not a safe place to run in the dark.

Demetria Raper

1. i ADORE that you make me laugh every time i visit here :)~~~thank you!2. i dont LOVE my treadmill but i'm blessed to have one.3. ok so i do KINDA hate my treadmill but only b/c its SO MUCH HARDER for me to run on it than outside. and b/c it faces a wall. and b/c i'm a wimp a little.4. PIVOTAL MOMENT: when i discovered i could watch netflix on my phone and run at the same time.5. i've only tried the gu chomps. orange= good but strawberry= nasty.

I love this post. I love that as such an elite runner as you are you like the treadmill.

I run all my winter (Dec.-Mar.) on the treadmill because I hate the cold. I also find that I'm better at doing speed workouts when I can just set the pace on the treadmill.

I totally agree with what you said about the mental challenge of the treadmill.

Finally, I have a friend who is always "Keep it real" (meaning that a treadmill is fake?). She is proud to run through all the elements of weather…I guess she's better than me that way. :) Ok, so she's not a "friend."

Love following your blog!

Big Daddy Diesel

Meg

I LOVE the treadmill. I know a lot of people hate it, but I think it's such a great/fun workout. I'm all about numbers, too. I love being able to do intervals and such without having to stare at my watch or keep track of my distance myself. Running outside is definitely fun too but I train on the treadmill so my runs outside are stronger. I use the treadmill as often as I can, but sometimes my desire to just kill it on the bike wins out and I wind up there instead. I'm also much stronger on the bike than I am with running, so sometimes you just want to do what you're better at hahah

I DID eat chocolate today. I'm pretty careful with what I eat, but I still eat chocolate. My FAVORITE chocolate fix is the Emerald Cocoa Roasted Almonds – in the 100 calorie packs. It's such a good fix without overdoing it, and then I still feel like I'm getting lots of chocolate. Also, I'm visiting my parents right now and they keep mini peppermint patties in the house. So I'm averaging like 3 of those per day. LOL

LAPT

For some reason using the treadmill REALLY hurts my body. I get so achy afterward and my knees hurt, which never happens when I run outside. I ran all my week-day training runs last year on the treadmill…NO IDEA how I did that. This year I cannot convince myself to do more than 5 miles on the treadmill. I have been braving "feels like 1* weather" and BLIZZARDS to run outside!

Becky

It makes me ridiculously happy to read this! I am training for my second marathon, which is in March. I live in New England and there's two feet of snow on the ground. I am afraid of cars, the dark, you name. I see lots of treadmill time in my future. I have been struggling with this so much because people keep telling me I need to get outside. Have they looked outside?! I LOVE outdoor runs, but sheesh! It's crazy out there. You give me hope!

Anna Zoe

just because of this, i think i am going to have to give treadmill runs another chance. i have the same problem as you do outside in the winter…i am pretty sure i slip and fall 13 times more than the average person. and i have no tolerance for the cold, no matter how many layers i have on and how fast my legs are moving. you are amazing, janae!

Ali

It's so funny that you said that because I watch WAY too many Law and Order: SVU episodes so I get so spooked about running outside on trails alone. Since I moved to a new city, I had to stop watching tv shows like that because I get too scared :)